Barrish, H. H., Saunders, M., & Wolf, M. M. (1969).
Good behavior game: Effects of individual contingencies for group consequences on disruptive behavior in a classroom.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
2, 119-124.
Out-of-seat and talking-out behaviors were studied in a regular
fourth-grade class that included several problem children.
After baseline rates of the inappropriate behaviors were
obtained, the class was divided into two teams to play a
game. Each out-of-seat and talking-out response by an
individual child resulted in a mark being placed on the
chalkboard, which meant a possible loss of privileges by all
members of the student's team. In this manner a contingency, was
arranged for the inappropriate behavior of each child while the
consequence (possible loss of privileges) of the child's behavior
was shared by all members of this team as a group. The privileges
were events which were available in almost every classroom, such
as extra recess, first to line up for lunch, time for special
projects, stars and name tags, as well as winning the game. The
individual contingencies for the group consequences were
successfully applied first during math period and then during
reading period. The experimental analysis involved elements of
both reversal and multiple baseline designs.